The Bermuda Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has launched a private prosecution against a dog owner whose puppy was reportedly found chained to the ceiling, and later died.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Kenneth Dyer denied a charge of causing undue suffering and pain to a dog between an unknown date and August 17 last year.

Rhys Williams, representing the SPCA, told the court that an SPCA officer had attended Mr Dyer’s home and found the dog, believed to be a pitbull-type puppy named Black, chained to the ceiling with no slack in the chain.

Even when the chain was removed, the dog did not appear to be able to move.

He further alleged that the dog was found to have multiple broken bones and blood in its lungs.

The animal subsequently died, with Mr Williams attributing its death to the injuries it had suffered.

The matter is expected to return to court to be mentioned next month, with the trial scheduled to take place in July.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe released Mr Dyer on $2,000 bail.

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